DE60027541T2 - Method and device for producing a plug with a holder attached to the rear - Google Patents

Description

The The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for making a plug with one at the back mounted bracket in which, after a housing body and a rear holder in a metal mold, the holder was molded on the back side provisionally to the housing body in the Metal mold is held and connection terminals respectively received in terminal receiving chambers which are formed in the housing body and then the holder at the back completely in held the housing body becomes.

An example of a connector with a back-mounted holder used extensively for connecting harnesses or connecting an electronic device to a wiring harness in a vehicle such as an automobile, and a method of manufacturing this connector will be described with reference to FIGS 12 and 13 described.

A housing body 41 and a pair of holders 42a and 42b at the back are formed in mold cavities (not shown), and at the time the molding is completed, they become carriages 43a and 43b which form part of a metal mold, respectively on opposite sides of the housing body 41 attached while holder 44a and 44b on the side surfaces of the holder 42a and 42b be attached to the back, as in 12 is shown.

For provisionally holding the holder 42a and 42b at the back to the housing body 41 become the sledges 43a and 43b from the housing body 41 moved away (or withdrawn) and the holder 44a and 44b are each introduced into spaces, which as a result of the movement of these sledges, as in 13 shown to be obtained.

Then the holders 44a and 44b driven to the holder 42a and 42b at the back in the direction of the housing body 41 to move and these holders 42a and 42b on the back of the housing body 41 to keep.

The withdrawal movement of the sledges 43a and 43b , the movement of the holder 44a and 44b in the lateral direction and the movement of the holders 42a and 42b at the back in the direction of the housing body 41 for provisional holding purposes are effected by air cylinders (not shown).

In the method and apparatus for manufacturing the above connector with a rear-mounted holder, the holders 44a and 44b each moved into the rooms as a result of moving the sledges 43a and 43b away from the housing body 41 and therefore the amount of retraction movement of the sled must be 43a and 43b be larger than the length of the holder 44a and 44b in the longitudinal direction.

Therefore, the manufacturing device must have spaces for receiving the holder 44a and 44b and the sled pulled back 43a and 43b have. Therefore, the manufacturing apparatus has a large size, and moreover, since the mold metal molds are also used for the above purpose, the manufacturing apparatus is complicated in construction and a special molding machine is required. Thus, these problems were countered.

In addition is it for making many plugs with one on the back attached holder with the above-mentioned sequential manufacturing method necessary to increase the number of mold cavities. However, one met one Problem that it is difficult to shape many connectors at the same time because the manufacturing device becomes large in size.

The The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for making a plug with a the back attached to the holder, the manufacturing device is simple in construction and has a design of small size can.

EP-A-0733464 discloses an apparatus for manufacturing a connector including a housing body having an undercut portion and a terminal receiving chamber into which a connection terminal is insertable formed in the housing body and further including a retainer at the rear side; for holding the connection terminal received in the terminal receiving chamber, the apparatus including a metal forming tool comprising:
a fixed mold;
a movable die that can be moved toward and away from the fixed die, and that is connected to the fixed die so as to form separate die cavities for respectively molding the shell body and the backside retainer;
a carriage movable away from the housing body after molding the housing body;
a core that is pulled into the movable die after forming the retainer at the rear so as to expose a side surface of the retainer at the rear side so as to expose the housing body lies opposite;
a holder which holds the holder on the back.

In accordance with the present invention, such a device is characterized by
a first cylinder which moves the holder on the rear side together with the carriage and the holder, and positions the holder on the rear side at a position where the holder on the rear side faces the case body; and
a second cylinder that moves the positioned holder on the rear side toward the case body through the holder, so that the holder is attached to the case body at the rear side in a provisionally held state within the metal mold.

at the above device is after the holder at the back and the housing body formed moved the carriage away from the housing body and the first one Cylinder is driven to the holder, which holds the holder the back Hold together to move the carriage to the holder at the back to the position of the housing body move. Then the second cylinder is driven to the holder at the back in the direction of the housing body move, thus provisionally the holder on the back to the housing body hold.

Therefore the carriage and the holder are moved in unison and there is no north turnout space for the holder to be accommodated provide and the extent of Movement of the carriage is small and therefore the overall size of the device can be can be reduced and also can also increase the production efficiency.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing the above-described connector, the connector including a housing body having an undercut portion and a terminal accommodation chamber into which a connection terminal is insertable formed in the housing body and further comprising a holder at the back side for holding the connection terminal received in the terminal accommodating chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
Providing a metal mold comprising a fixed mold, a movable mold movable toward and away from the fixed mold, a carriage for molding the housing body, a core, and a holder, both of which serve to support the back to shape;
Shapes of the case body;
Driving the carriage after the molding step of the housing body so that the undercut portion of the housing body is exposed;
Shapes of the holder at the back;
Moving the core after the forming step of the holder at the rear side to expose a side surface of the holder at the rear side so as to oppose the case body;
after the moving step, moving the holder at the rear side and the carriage to a position where the holder is to be attached to the case body at the rear side; and
Moving the retainer at the rear toward the housing body attached to the movable mold so that the retainer is attached to the housing body at the rear in a provisionally held state within the metal mold.

at According to the above method, the carriage for molding the case body becomes shaping the holder at the back and the housing body of away from the housing body emotional. However, the carriage can be molded together with the holder of the holder at the back are moved in a lateral direction and therefore there is none Nordwendigkeit provide a space for receiving the holder and therefore, the overall size of the device be reduced and as well Also, the manufacturing process can be simplified.

SHORT DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS

1 Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a connector manufacturing apparatus with a rear-mounted holder of the present invention;

2 is an enlarged perspective view of an important portion of 1 showing the structure of a movable mold;

3 is a schematic side elevational view of 2 ;

4 Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the construction of an important portion of both the manufacturing apparatus and a method of manufacturing a plug with a back-mounted holder;

5 Fig. 10 is a schematic side elevational view showing the construction of an important portion of both the manufacturing apparatus and the manufacturing method;

6 is a schematic side elevational view showing the movement of the carriage plates in 5 shows;

7 Fig. 10 is a schematic side elevational view showing a state in which the holders are mounted to a case body at the rear side;

8th Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which the provisional holding of the holders on the back side to the housing body is carried out;

9 Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the plug with a back-mounted holder;

10 Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the holders on the rear side are provisionally held to the case body;

11 is a sectional view through the plug of 10 ;

12 Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a related apparatus for manufacturing a plug with a back-mounted holder; and

13 is a schematic view showing a state in which the carriage in 12 to be moved.

Both a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing a connector with a rear-mounted holder of the present invention and a method of manufacturing a connector with a rear-mounted holder of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS 1 to 11 described.

at the description of this implementation only for a better understanding the present invention, the arrangements of the manufacturing apparatus, the holders on the back and the housing body described and then the manufacturing process will be described.

The device for manufacturing a plug with a rear-mounted holder (hereinafter referred to only as the "manufacturing device") 1 of this embodiment has a shape function of molding the holder 7a and 7b on the back (description follows) and the case body 8th (Description follows) and a function of provisionally holding (assembling) the molded holders 7a and 7b at the back to the housing body 8th , Therefore, the manufacturing process possessed by the manufacturing apparatus 1 the function is performed to effect the sequential operation from the forming operation by the metal forming tool to the provisional holding operation. In this embodiment described below, however, the operation for mounting the holder 7a and 7b at the back to the housing body 8th mainly described as the manufacturing process.

First, the basic structure of the manufacturing device 1 described. This manufacturing device comprises a fixed mold 2 (shown at a right front section of 1 ) and the movable mold 3 (shown at a left rear section of 1 ). The movable mold 3 includes a scraper 4 (provided on a front side) and a base portion 5 , As in 1 the scraper will be shown 4 and the base section 5 moved to each other to be connected to each other to the movable mold 3 to form as well as these two elements, that is, the scraper 4 and the base section 5 be moved away from each other, as indicated by the arrows A and B in 4 is shown.

When the movable mold 3 is moved to deal with the fixed mold 2 Mold cavities are used to shape the pair of upper and lower holders, respectively 7a and 7b on the back and the case body 8th between the fixed mold 2 and the moving body 8th between the fixed mold 2 and the movable mold 3 educated.

guide pins 6 each extend through four corner sections of the scraper 4 and serve to provide a guiding function when the fixed mold 2 and the movable mold 3 connect to each other to form the mold cavities (not shown) and also serve to provide a guiding function when the scraper 4 in the direction and away from the base section 5 moves as described below.

In the perspective views of 1 . 2 . 4 and 8th which the manufacturing device 1 Although the illustration of sprue spreaders for casting a synthetic resin is omitted for purposes of illustration, the sprue splitter 9 in the 3 and 5 to 7 shown. Therefore, when the fixed mold 2 and the movable mold 3 interconnected with the mold cavities, which with the sprue distributors 9 communicate formed and when the synthetic resin through a pouring port 9a will be poured, the pair of upper and lower holders 7a and 7b on the back and the case body 8th formed independently of each other.

When the movable mold 3 from the fixed mold 2 after the mold operation is moved away, the holders become 7a and 7b on the back and the case body 8th , kept on the moving mold 3 exposed. carriage 11a and 11b are on a side surface of the movable mold 3 provided, that is, a side surface of the scraper 4 opposite the fixed mold 2 and these sledges 11a and 11b form a part of the metal mold, when the housing body 8th shapes and they are controlled to move away from the housing body 8th to move away after the form operation.

cores 12a and 12b and holder 13a and 13b are also on the side surface of the scraper 4 intended. The cores 12a and 12b form part of the metal mold when the holders 7a and 7b be shaped at the back and are controlled to enter the wiper 4 from the side surfaces of the holder 7a and 7b to be pulled at the back after the forming operation. The holders 13a and 13b form part of the metal mold during the molding operation.

The sled 11a and the holder 13a are on the sled plate 14a mounted on the side surface of the scraper 4 is mounted to move in opposite directions in a lateral direction. The sled 11b and the holder 13b are on the sled plate 14b mounted on the side surface of the scraper 4 is mounted to move in opposite directions in a lateral direction.

cylinder 16a and 16b which is independent of the slide plates 14a and 14b are on the side surface of the scraper 4 intended. rods 17a and 17b the cylinder 16a and 16b are each on the side blocks 18a and 18b loosely attached and in each case at one end of the slide plates 14a and 14b intended.

cylinder 19a and 19b are each on the slide plates 14a and 14b mounted and the rods 20a and 20b (shown in 3 ) are loose at one end of the holder 13a and 13b attached. The cylinders 16a and 16b corresponding to the first cylinders in the present invention and the cylinders 19a and 19b according to the second cylinders in the present invention.

In this construction, when the cylinders 16a and 16b be driven, the rods 17a and 17b to the right of their respective, in the 2 and 3 withdrawn positions shown and at the same time, respectively, the carriage plates 14a and 14b together with the rods 17a and 17b emotional. Because the sledges 11a and 11b , the holder 13a and 13b and the cylinders 19a and 19b on the sled plates 14a and 14b These parts are also moved to the right when the cylinders are mounted 16a and 16b are driven.

The cylinders 19a and 19b are driven to the pair of holders 7a and 7b on the back of the housing body 8th to keep.

Here is for a better understanding of the molded plug 21 described with the attached holders on the back. As in 9 shown are a variety of terminal receiving chambers 22 in the housing body 8th formed and of fene sections 22a , which are respectively formed in upper and lower sides of this case body correspond to the undercut portions in the present invention.

The holders 7a and 7b at the rear in their provisionally held state cover each large sections of the open sections 22a and these holders 7a and 7b at the back in their fully held condition, they completely cover the open portions, respectively 22a , In this embodiment, the upper holder 7a at the back and the lower holder 7b at the rear side (in the drawings) is provisionally held to the case body in such a manner that each holder at the rear side is astride the corresponding row of the terminal accommodating chambers 22 is arranged.

The term "provisional holding" means a state in which the holder is held on the rear side to the housing body in a manner which gives it the connection terminals 23 (described below) permitted in the respective terminal accommodating chambers 22 to be included. Namely, when the holders are held at the back in the provisionally held state, the connection terminals 23 each in the terminal receiving chambers 22 like in the 10 and 11 be introduced shown. In the in 11 shown state when the holder 7a and 7b at the back into the connection-receiving chambers 22 are pressed, the connection terminals 23 is prevented from being pulled out, and this state is referred to as a completely held state.

Next is the method of making the plug 21 described with the rear-mounted holder (that is, the method in which the holder 7a and 7b on the back and the case body 8th be shaped and then the holder 7a and 7b on the back of the housing body 8th being held).

At an initial state where the holders 7a and 7b at the back and the housing core by 8th Be formed, the scraper 4 and the base section 5 , as in 1 shown assembled and the cores 12a and 12b are each in an adjacent relationship to the side surfaces of the holder 7a and 7b brought forward in the back, as in the 2 and 3 shown, and the sledges 11a and 11b support the housing body 8th from its upper and lower side, as in 3 is shown.

In this initial state, when the scraper 4 and the base section 5 are driven to be moved away from each other as indicated by the arrows A and B in FIG 4 is displayed, the cores 12a and 12b (please refer 2 ) in the wiper 4 pulled, as indicated by arrow C, and the carriage 11a is driven to be moved in a direction Da while sled 11b is driven to be moved in a direction Db. At this time, none of the cylinders 16a . 16b . 19a and 19b driven and the holders 7a and 7b on the back and the case body 8th are held in their respective form positions.

In the above initial state, when the cylinders 16a and 16b , as in 5 Powered the rods 17a and 17b withdrawn to the sled plates 14a and 14b in the direction to move to the right, as indicated by the arrows Ea and Eb in 6 is displayed so that the holder 7a and 7b at the back to a fixed position of the housing body 8th to be moved. In this state, when the cylinders 19a and 19b be driven, the rods 20a and 20b extended, as indicated by the arrows Fa and Fb in 7 is displayed so that the holder 7a and 7b at the back (see 5 ) for engagement with the side surface of the housing body 8th are moved, that is, in their respective provisional holding positions of the holder on the back, through the holder 13a and 13b and they are temporarily held on the housing body.

Then, if the drive of the cylinder 19a and 19b the rods are stopped 20a and 20b pulled back and the holders 13a and 13b are each from the owners 7a and 7b moved away at the back as by the arrows Ga and Gb in 8th is displayed, and thus the provisional holding the holder is completed at the back to the housing body.

After the provisional hold is completed, the housing body becomes 8th with the holders provisionally held on it 7a and 7b at the back of the scraper 4 removed and then the sled plates 14a and 14b each through the cylinders 16a and 16b moved back to their original positions. Then, when the scraper 4 and the base section 5 moved to each other to connect to the cores 12a and 12b extended into their respective initial positions. Thus, the manufacturing process comprising the sequential steps from molding to provisional holding can be accomplished.

Next are the holders 7a and 7b on the back and the case body 8th in detail with reference to the 9 to 11 described. As described above, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 22 in the housing body 8th formed and the upper holder 7a at the back and the lower holder 7b on the back side (in the drawings) are provisionally held on the case body in such a manner that each holder on the rear side is astride the corresponding row of the terminal accommodating chambers 22 is arranged. Each of the holders 7a and 7b on the back has a U-shaped cross section and retaining holes 25 are each on inner surfaces of the right and left sidewalls 24 the holder formed on the back and also be holding gripper 26 each of which has an inclined surface respectively on the inner surfaces of the right and left sidewalls 24 educated.

On the other hand, provisional retaining projections 28 each of which has both a tapered surface 27 as well as holding levels 29 has, in each case on opposite side surfaces 8a an end portion on the back of the housing body 8th educated. An inclined abutment surface 30 for holding the back surface of the holders 7a . 7b at the back, to guide them, is formed on each of the upper and lower sides of the case body, in which the open portions 22a the connection receiving chambers 22 are each formed.

In the above manufacturing process, in the state of 6 the holders 7a and 7b at the back each in register with the open sections 22a in the housing body 8th arranged as in 9 is shown.

In the state of 7 become the holders 7a and 7b on the back of the housing body 8th held, as in 10 is shown. In this provisional holding are the provisional holding projections 28 each in engagement with the holding holes 25 (in 9 shown) and a rotational movement of each holder 7a . 7b on the back of the holding gripper get 26 each in engagement with the holding levels 29 and at the same time, the back surface becomes the holder 7a . 7b at the back against the abutment surface 30 initiated.

In the above provisionally held Zu stand become secondary retaining projections 31 on the holders 7a . 7b formed on the back are each in the terminal receiving chambers 22 through the open section 22a introduced as in 11 is shown. Then, respectively, the connection terminals 23 into the connection receiving chambers 22 be recorded and then, if each holder 7a . 7b is pushed further into the housing body at the rear, the connection terminals 23 each by the secondary holding projections 31 held. In this way, each holder on the rear side is shifted from the provisionally held state to the fully held state, thus completing the plug 21 with the holder attached to the back.

As described above, in this embodiment, both the carriages 11a and 11b as well as the holders 13a and 13b each on the slide plates 14a and 14b mounted and the second cylinder 19a and 19b to respectively drive the holder 13a and 13b to the holders 7a and 7b at the back to the housing body 8th To be provisional, are also each on the slide plates 14a and 14b assembled. That's why the sledges are 11a and 11b away from the housing body 8th moved and then the first cylinder 19a and 19b driven to the slide plates 14a and 14b moving in the lateral direction and only by doing so are the holders 7a and 7b at the rear in each case in an opposite relation to the housing body 8th arranged.

That is why the extent of the movement of the sled 11a and 11b Small and the time required for the manufacturing process is reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of the operation. In addition, no spaces for each recording of the sled 11a and 11b be provided, which is on the outside of the holder 13a and 13b Therefore, the manufacturing device may have a design of small size.

The Method and device for making the plug with a at the back attached holders are not on the above designs limited but various modifications can be made. Even if this execution to the process for making a single plug with a at the back attached holder, for example, a variety of Plugs currently made at the same time and many plugs can be produced at the same time, without the overall size of the manufacturing device increases.

at this version can, even if the holder at the back each to the opposite Held sides of the housing body The present invention also applies to the type of connector be applied, in which a holder at the back on a single side surface of a Housing body held becomes.

As is described above in the manufacturing process and the manufacturing apparatus of the plug with a holder attached to the back the present invention, the carriage after the holder to the back and the housing body formed were moved away from the housing body and the first cylinder is driven to the holder, which the holder on the back Hold together to move the carriage to the holder at the back to move to the predetermined position, where the holder is in the back opposed Relation arranged to the housing body is. Then, the second cylinder is driven to the holder the back in the direction of the housing body to temporarily attach the holder to the back of the holder Housing body too hold.

Therefore the carriage and the holder are moved in unison with each other and it is not necessary just a big distance to the sled to move in a different direction. That's why it's not necessary to provide a space for holding the carriage in a stand-by state and it is also not necessary a control mechanism for to provide sole movement of the carriage. That is why the Manufacturing device can be reduced in size, they can be simplified and the production efficiency can be increased.

Claims (2)

Contraption ( 1 ) for producing a plug which has a housing body ( 8th ) having an undercut portion and a terminal receiving chamber ( 22 ) into which a connection port ( 23 ) is insertable, formed in the housing body and further comprising a holder ( 7a . 7b ) at the rear for holding the connection terminal received in the terminal receiving chamber, the apparatus including a metal mold comprising: a fixed mold (Fig. 2 ); a movable mold ( 3 ) which can be moved toward and away from the fixed mold, and which is connected to the fixed mold so as to form separate mold cavities for respectively molding the housing body and the holder on the back surface; a sledge ( 11a . 11b ) which is movable away from the housing body after forming the housing body; a core ( 12a . 12b ), which after shaping the Holder is pulled at the rear in the movable mold so as to expose a side surface of the holder on the back so that it is opposite to the housing body; a holder ( 13a . 13b ), which holds the holder at the back; characterized by a first cylinder ( 16a . 16b ), which the holder ( 7a . 7b ) on the back along with the carriage ( 11a . 11b ) and the holder ( 13a . 13b ) and positions the holder on the back at a position at which the holder on the back of the housing body ( 8th ) faces; and a second cylinder ( 19a . 19b ), which the positioned holder ( 7a . 7b ) at the rear in the direction of the housing body ( 8th ) through the holder ( 13a . 13b ), so that the holder is attached to the back of the housing body in a provisionally held state within the metal mold. Method for producing a plug with a device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein the plug has a housing body with an undercut portion and with a terminal receiving chamber ( 22 ) into which a connection port ( 23 ) is insertable, formed in the housing body ( 8th ) and a holder ( 7a . 7b ) at the back for holding the connection terminal received in the terminal accommodating chamber, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a metal mold having a fixed mold ( 2 ), a movable molding tool ( 3 ), which is movable in the direction of and away from the fixed mold, a slide ( 11a . 11b ) for molding the housing body, a core ( 12a . 12b ) and a holder ( 13a . 13b ), both of which serve to form the holder at the back; Shapes of the housing body ( 8th ); Driving the sledge ( 11a . 11b ) after the molding step of the case body so that the undercut portion of the case body is exposed; Forms of the holder ( 7a . 7b ) at the back; Moving the core ( 12a . 12b after the forming step of the holder at the rear side to expose a side surface of the holder at the rear side so as to oppose the case body; After the moving step, move the holder to the back ( 7a . 7b ) and the carriage ( 11a . 11b ) in a position at which the holder on the back to the housing body ( 8th ) is to be attached; and moving the holder at the rear in the direction of the housing body ( 8th ) attached to the movable mold ( 3 ), so that the holder ( 7a . 7b ) is attached to the case body at the rear side in a provisionally held state within the metal mold.